Development environment

Abstract

The present invention may be said to consist in a method, system ( 1 ) and/or of configuring one or more mobile devices ( 4 ) to provide one or more user interfaces to at least one database on a remote computer system. An index of one or more shadow fields (e.g. 32, 35 ), each shadow field being associated with one or more of data fields in the at least one database can be defined. Input can be received defining a user interface (e.g. 64 ) to the at least one database for deployment on a mobile device. Configuration data can be generated specifying the user interface, the configuration data comprising data specifying one or more of the shadow data fields associated with the user interface. The configuration data is adapted to configure a mobile device ( 4 ) as a user interface to the at least one database.

1 . A method of configuring one or more mobile devices to provide one or more user interfaces to at least one database on a remote computer system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 defining an index of one or more shadow data fields, each shadow data field being associated with one or more data fields in the at least one database, and    receiving input defining a user interface to the at least one database for deployment on a mobile device, and    generating configuration data specifying the user interface, the configuration data comprising data specifying one or more of the shadow data fields associated with the user interface,    wherein the configuration data is adapted to configure a mobile device as a user interface to the at least one database by:    configuring the mobile device to display, store and/or receive data entries in relation to the shadow data fields specified by the configuration data, and    configuring the mobile device for data synchronisation of data entries in relation to the specified shadow data fields with data entries in the one or more associated data fields in the database.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the configuration data is adapted to be received and utilised by a mobile device to configure itself to provide the user interface.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2  further comprising the step of transferring the configuration data to one or more mobile devices during a communication session.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the configuration data is transferred over a non-persistent communications channel.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein the configuration data is transferred periodically during a communication session  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of receiving input defining a user interface to the at least one database comprises receiving input specifying one or more display elements for display on the mobile device, and wherein the generated configuration data further comprises data specifying the display elements.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein each display element relates to one or more shadow data fields.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the step of receiving input defining a user interface to the at least one database comprises receiving input specifying, for at least one display element, one or more of the shadow data fields related to that display element.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the display elements comprise one or more of: menu options, icons, requests for information, data input fields.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the configuration data is adapted to be received and utilised by a mobile device to configure itself to provide the user interface, the user interface comprising a graphical display of the menu elements.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the configuration data is adapted to be received and utilised by a mobile device to configure itself to provide the user interface that receives data in relation to one or more of the display elements and stores the received data in one or more of the shadow data fields specified for a respective display element for which data is received.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of receiving input defining a user interface to the at least one database comprises receiving input defining tasks and/or questions for display and/or storage on a mobile device, wherein the tasks and/or questions are associated with one or more of the shadow data fields.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the configuration data further comprises data specifying one or more of the tasks and/or questions for display and/or storage on the mobile device.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the tasks and/or questions are associated with display elements and/or shadow data fields related to display elements.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the configuration data is adapted to be received and utilised by a mobile device to configure itself to provide the user interface, the user interface comprising a graphical display of the tasks and/or questions.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein prior to the step of transferring the configuration data to one or more mobile devices during a communication session, the method comprises the step of storing the configuration data in an intermediary store.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein the step of transferring the configuration data to one or more mobile devices during a communication session comprises transferring the configuration data from the intermediary store to a data store in each respective mobile device.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 16  further comprising the step of receiving data from one or mobile devices and storing the data in the intermediary store.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18  further comprising the step of updating the at least one database with data in the intermediary store received from one or more mobile devices.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of synchronising data in the data fields of the at least one database with data stored in relation to the shadow data fields specified by the configuration data.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of transferring data from one or more data fields of the at least one database to one or more mobile devices for synchronising the specified shadow data fields associated with the user interface with associated data fields of the at least one database.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 1  comprising transferring the configuration data to a plurality of mobile devices.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of receiving input defining a user interface to the at least one database for deployment on a mobile device comprises: 
 receiving user input specifying the mobile device type of a desired vendor,    emulating a graphical user interface of the mobile device, and    receiving input selecting display elements with one or more associated shadow data fields.    
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the step of receiving input defining a user interface to the at least one database for deployment on a mobile device further comprises: 
 receiving user input specifying the at least one database, and    receiving user input specifying one or more shadow data fields.    
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the steps of receiving the configuration data at a mobile device and configuring the mobile device as a user interface to the at least one database using the configuration data.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 25  further comprising the step of receiving further configuration data at the mobile device and re-configuring the mobile device as a re-configured user interface to the at least one database using the configuration data.  
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 26  further comprising the step of synchronising data in the specified shadow data fields with data in the data fields of the at least one database.  
   
   
       28 . A system adapted to facilitate configuration of one or more mobile devices to provide one or more user interfaces to at least one database on a remote computer system, the system comprising: 
 a computer system comprising, or adapted to communicate with, at least one database that comprises a data structure with one or more data fields, each data field for storing one or more data entries, the computer system comprising at least one computer programmed to:    define an index of one or more shadow data fields, each shadow data field being associated with one or more data fields in the at least one database, and    receive input defining a user interface to the at least one database for deployment or a mobile device, and    generate configuration data specifying the user interface, the configuration data comprising data specifying one or more of the shadow data fields associated with the user interface,    wherein the configuration data is adapted to configure a mobile device as a user interface to the at least one database by:    configuring the mobile device to display, store and/or receive data entries in relation to the shadow data fields specified by the configuration data, and    configuring the mobile device for data synchronisation of data entries in the specified shadow data fields with data entries in the one or more associated data fields in the database.    
   
   
       29 . A system according to  claim 23  wherein the configuration data is adapted to be received and utilised by a mobile device to configure itself to provide a user interface.  
   
   
       30 . A system according to  claim 29  further comprising a definition file coupled to or integrated with the computer for storing the configuration data.  
   
   
       31 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the system comprises a first transmitter and the computer is further programmed to transfer the configuration data to one or more mobile devices during a communication session via the first transmitter.  
   
   
       32 . A system according to  claim 31  wherein the configuration data is transferred over a non-persistent communications channel  
   
   
       33 . A system according to  claim 32  wherein the configuration data is transferred periodically during a communication session.  
   
   
       34 . A system according to  claim 28  wherein to receive input defining a user interface to the at least one database the computer is programmed to receive input specifying one or more display elements for display on the mobile device, and wherein to generate configuration data specifying the user interface the computer is programmed to generate data specifying the display elements.  
   
   
       35 . A system according to  claim 34  wherein each display element relates to one or more shadow data fields.  
   
   
       36 . A system according to  claim 34  wherein to receive input defining a user interface to the at least one database the computer is programmed to receive input specifying, for at least one display element, one or more of the shadow data fields related to that display element, and wherein to generate configuration data specifying the user interface the computer is programmed to generate data specifying, for the at least display element, the one or more shadow data fields related to the at least one display element.  
   
   
       37 . A system according to  claim 34  wherein the display elements comprise one or more of: menu options, icons, requests for information, data input fields.  
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 34  wherein the configuration data is adapted to be received and utilised by a mobile device to configure itself to provide the user interface, the user interface comprising a graphical display of the menu elements.  
   
   
       39 . A system according to  claim 36  wherein the configuration data is adapted to be received and utilised by a mobile device to configure itself to provide the user interface that receives data in relation to one or more of the display elements and stores received data in one or more of the shadow fields specified for a respective display element for which data is received.  
   
   
       40 . A system according to  claim 28  wherein to receive input defining a user interface to the at least one database the computer is programmed to receive input defining tasks and/or questions for display and/or storage on a mobile device, wherein the tasks and/or questions are associated with one or more of the shadow data fields.  
   
   
       41 . A system according to  claim 40  wherein the configuration data further comprises data specifying one or more of the tasks and/or questions for display and/or storage on the mobile device.  
   
   
       42 . A system according to  claim 41  wherein the tasks and/or questions are associated with display elements and/or shadow data fields related to display elements.  
   
   
       43 . A system according to  claim 42  wherein the configuration data is adapted to be received and utilised by a mobile device to configure itself to provide the user interface, the user interface comprising a graphical display of the tasks and/or questions.  
   
   
       44 . A system according to  claim 28  further comprising an intermediary store coupled to or integrated with the computer wherein prior to transferring the configuration data to one or more mobile devices during a communication session, the computer is programmed to store the configuration data in the intermediary store.  
   
   
       45 . A system according to  claim 44  wherein transferring the configuration data to one or more mobile devices during a communication session comprises transferring the configuration data from the intermediary store to a data store in each respective mobile device using the first transmitter.  
   
   
       46 . A system according to  claim 31  wherein the system comprises a first receiver, wherein the system is adapted to receive data from one or mobile devices via the first receiver and store it in the intermediary store, the data comprising data in the specified shadow data fields.  
   
   
       47 . A system according to  claim 46  wherein the system is adapted to update the data fields of the at least one database that are associated with the specified shadow data fields, the data fields being updated with data from the intermediary store received from one or more mobile devices.  
   
   
       48 . A system according to  claim 31  wherein the computer is further programmed to transfer data from one or more data fields of the at least one database to one or more mobile devices via the first transmitter for synchronising the specified shadow data fields associated with the user interface with associated data fields of the at least one database.  
   
   
       49 . A system according to  claim 28  wherein to receive input defining a user interface to the at least one database for deployment to a mobile device, the computer is programmed to: 
 receive user input specifying the mobile device type of a desired vendor,    emulate a graphical user interface of the mobile device, and    receive input selecting display elements with one or more associated shadow data fields.    
   
   
       50 . A system according to  claim 49  wherein to receive input defining a user interface to the at least one database for deployment to a mobile device, the computer is further programmed to: 
 receive user input specifying the at least one database, and    receive user input specifying one or more shadow data fields.    
   
   
       51 . A system according to  claim 28  further comprising at least one mobile device, the device comprising a second receiver adapted to receive configuration data transmitted via the first transmitter, wherein the mobile device is adapted to configure itself as a user interface to the at least one database using the received configuration data.  
   
   
       52 . A system according to  claim 28  wherein the mobile device is adapted to receive further configuration data transmitted via the first transmitter and re-configure itself as a re-configured user interface to the at least one database using the additional configuration data.  
   
   
       53 . A system according to  claim 52  wherein the mobile device further comprises a second transmitter, wherein the device is adapted to transmit data to the intermediary store via the first receiver, the data being for updating the data fields of the at least one database that are associated with the specified shadow data fields.  
   
   
       54 . A system according to  claim 53  wherein the mobile device is adapted to periodically communicate with the intermediary store to receive configuration data, and periodically re-configure itself as a user interface to the at least one database using the configuration data.  
   
   
       55 . A mobile device comprising a transceiver and configuration software, the mobile device adapted to receive the configuration data of  claim 22 , and adapted to configure itself with the configuration software using the configuration data to provide a user interface to the at least one database.  
   
   
       56 . A method for facilitating configuration of a mobile device and integration of the mobile device with a remote computer system comprising at least one database, to provide for data synchronisation between the mobile device and the remote computer system, the method comprising: 
 configuring a mobile device functionality and/or user interface, comprising selecting menu elements for display, methods for the elements and one or more shadow data fields related to the elements and associated with data fields in the database,    using software that configures a system to facilitate data synchronisation between the mobile device and database.    
   
   
       57 . A computer program for operating a computer connected to at least one database to facilitate configuration of a mobile device to provide a user interface to the at least one database on a remote computer system, the computer program comprising: 
 a index module adapted to enable the definition of an index of one or more shadow data fields for use in configuring the mobile device, each shadow data field being associated with one or more data fields in the at least one database, each data field in the at least one database containing one or more data entries, and    a user configuration module adapted to enable configuration of the functionality of the mobile device, the user configuration module enabling a user to select one or more of the shadow data fields, wherein the user configuration module generates configuration data for configuration of a mobile device to display, store and/or receive data entries in relation to the selected shadow fields and for data synchronisation of:    data entries in the selected shadow fields displayed, stored or received on the mobile device, and    data entries in the one or more associated data fields in the database.    
   
   
       58 . A computer program according to  claim 57  wherein the configuration data is adapted to be received by the mobile device during a communication session, and adapted to be utilised by the mobile device to configure itself as defined by the configuration data.  
   
   
       59 . A computer program according to  claim 57  wherein the configuration data further defines tasks and/or questions for display and/or storage on the mobile device, and wherein the configuration data is adapted to be received and utilised by a mobile device to configure itself to receive, display and/or store tasks and/or questions defined by the configuration data receive data entries in respect of those tasks and/or questions.  
   
   
       60 . A computer program according to  claim 59  wherein the tasks and/or questions are associated with one or more of the shadow data fields.  
   
   
       61 . A computer program according to  claim 57  wherein the configuration data is adapted to be stored in a definition file that is in communication with a data store in the mobile device.  
   
   
       62 . A computer program according to  claim 57  wherein the user configuration module is further adapted to receive user input specifying display elements for association with one or more of the selected shadow data fields, the user configuration module adapted to generate configuration data defining the display elements and the respective associations of those display elements with one or more of the selected shadow data fields, the configuration data being adapted to be received and utilised by a mobile device to configure itself to display the specified display elements.  
   
   
       63 . A computer program according to  claim 62  wherein the display comprise one or more of menu options, icons, requests for information, data input fields.  
   
   
       64 . A computer program according to  claim 62  wherein the configuration data is adapted to be received and utilised by a mobile device to configure itself to receive data in relation to one or more of the display elements and store received data in one or more shadow fields associated with a respective display element for which data is received.  
   
   
       65 . A computer program according to  claim 62  that facilitates configuration of a plurality of mobile devices.  
   
   
       66 . A computer program according to  claim 65  wherein the computer program facilitates configuration of a plurality of different mobile device types supplied by different vendors.  
   
   
       67 . A computer program according to  claim 66  wherein the user configuration module is adapted to: 
 receive user input specifying the mobile device type of the desired vendor,    emulate a graphical user interface of the mobile device, and    display user specified display elements and/or the data entries for the selected shadow fields associated with those specified display elements.    
   
   
       68 . A computer program according to  claim 57  wherein the user configuration module simulates data synchronisation between data entries display, stored and/or received in respect of the selected shadow fields and data entries in the associated data fields in the database.  
   
   
       69 . A computer program according to  claim 57  wherein the configuration data is adapted to be stored in an intermediary store prior to data transfer to a mobile device.  
   
   
       70 . A computer program according to  claim 57  further comprising a run-time scheduling module for editing display elements, requests, tasks and information, the run-time scheduling module adapted to receive user input specifying changes to display elements, requests, task and information and generates update configuration data defining the changes, the update configuration data being adapted to received and utilised by a mobile device to configure itself as defined by the configuration data.  
   
   
       71 . A method of configuring one or more mobile devices to provide one or more user interfaces to at least one database on a remote computer system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 defining and storing an index of one or more shadow data fields, each shadow data field being associated with one or more data fields in the at least one database, and    receiving user input defining a user interface to the at least one database for deployment on a mobile device, the user input comprising input specifying menu elements that are related to one or more shadow data fields, and input specifying one or more of the shadow fields to be associated with the specified menu elements, and    generating configuration data specifying the user interface, the configuration data comprising data specifying the specified menu elements and the one or more specified shadow data fields associated with the specified menu elements,    transferring the configuration data to at least one mobile device for use in configuration of the device to provide one or more user interfaces to the at least one database,    and configuring the mobile device using the configuration data,    wherein the configuration data is adapted to configure a mobile device as a user interface to the at least one database by:    configuring the mobile device to display, store and/or receive data entries in relation to the shadow data fields specified by the configuration data, and    configuring the mobile device for data synchronisation of data entries in relation to the specified shadow data fields with data entries in the one or more associated data fields in the database.    
   
   
       72 . A system adapted to facilitate configuration of one or more mobile devices to provide one or more user interfaces to at least one database on a remote computer system, the system comprising: 
 an enterprise computer system,    at least one database communicating with or forming part of the enterprise computer system, the at least one database comprising a data structure with one or more data fields, each data field for storing one or more data entries,    a configuration computer system adapted to communicate with the at least one database,    at least one system transceiver form communicating with at least one mobile device, and    at least one mobile device with a transceiver for communicating with the configuration computer system via the system transceiver,    wherein the computer system comprising at least one computer programmed to:    define an index of one or more shadow data fields, each shadow data field being associated with one or more data fields in the at least one database, and    receive input defining a user interface to the at least one database for deployment to a mobile device, and    generate configuration data specifying the user interface, the configuration data comprising data specifying one or more of the shadow data fields associated with the user interface,    wherein the system is adapted to transmit the configuration data to the mobile device via the transceiver, and    wherein the configuration data is adapted to configure a mobile device as a user interface to the at least one database by:    configuring the mobile device to display, store and/or receive data entries in relation to the shadow data fields specified by the configuration data, and    configuring the mobile device for data synchronisation of data entries in the specified shadow data fields with data entries in the one or more associated data fields in the database.